Alaska Public Health Alert: Measles confirmed in Southern Kenai Peninsula

A measles case was confirmed in a resident of the Southern Kenai Peninsula this week. This person is an unvaccinated adult who began experiencing symptoms while traveling home to Alaska from a trip overseas. This person was infectious while flying on Alaska Air flight 228 from Seattle to Anchorage on January 10 and while at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport from approximately 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Jan. 11.

Nonimmune persons who were near the infected person on the airplane or in the airport could be at risk for developing measles.

The person then drove from Anchorage to the Southern Kenai Peninsula and remained at home except for seeking healthcare.

The person sought care and was immediately isolated upon arrival at the South Peninsula Hospital Emergency Department on January 13, then patient was transferred in isolation to Providence Alaska Medical Center on January 14 and maintained in isolation during hospitalization. Measles is a highly infectious viral respiratory disease that spreads via the airborne route and through direct contact with respiratory secretions. Measles typically starts with a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat, and is followed by a rash that most frequently starts on the face and descends to involve the trunk and limbs.

About 30% of people who get measles will develop one or more complications including pneumonia, ear infections, or diarrhea. Complications are more common in infants, children aged younger than 5 years, pregnant women, immunocompromised persons, and adults over 20 years. Measles can be fatal.

Symptoms typically start to appear 8–12 days after exposure, with rash onset typically occurring 10–14 days after exposure (range: 7–21 days). The infectious period is 4 days before rash onset through 4 days after rash onset.